Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-09-21
"On the Wing"

BLACKSTONE, Va, Sept 20-This town,
Familiarity known for nearly a century as
BLACKS and Whites" but having been re-
crslened in those latter days, ia knows by
the legal namo of Blackstone, lis original
name having been derived from the joint
ownership of Mr. Black (Swatz in the
original tongue) and Mr.. White, two wor-
thy and reputable citizens, and property
owners at this place, and whilst their names
indicated opposites they were one in seni.
ment and enterprise. They were Jointly hon
ored. and neDce their town was known Of
all men by the double nane adopted, and
by which it was known for so many years
in the olden time. In these days of great
political issues, the co.or line having become
q great factor, and such mixture having
become so distasteful TO both blacks and
achiteS, it was resolved 10 petition tho Leg
slature to change the peculiar name of this
old town, and as this good old county Of
Nottoway is in the "black belt" tho name
adopted is suggestive, as The black element
predominates and being rather rocky, the
name Blackstone seemed particularly ap
propriate, 80 the people, both blacks aud
whites, are we'll satisfied with the new name
of their enterprising little town. it has
population of about 1 200. is situated on the
Norfolk ard Western Railroad, between
Petersburg and Burkeville, about fifteen
miles from the latter. 1t has two largo to
bacco warehouses, with auction sales of the
weed daily during the season, a
dozen or more stores, several factories,
two good liverys, about half dozen neat
churches, and first class new hotel. In
ordinary times this place enjoys good
trade, and as tobacco market has recently
doomed up into considerable Importance
and draws business from distance of forty
miles in the interior-the farmers being as
we'll satisfied with prices obtained, as if they
sold in some of our moro distinguished mar
kets. From q trip of about one hundred
miles through the back country, ! find
that the farmers of the tobacco section are
10 q happy frame of mind, and we do not
now see the long and serious countenances
of year ago, when every enterprise of the
farmer failed. Good quality in tobacco is
what is needed to boom up the market, and
have interviewed number of the leading
planters, and without an exception all say
that the quality is the best since the war;
The quantity will not be so great-and SO
much the better for it. Then everybody
has curtailed the use of fertilizers, 80 that
comparatively little of the hard earnings
will have to go in that direction. The farm
ers are all hard at work cutting and curing
their tobacco, and it is to be hoped that
Jack Frost will not pay two early visit, as
it must be week or two later before the
entire crop eau he secured. In the adoin-
ing county of Brunswick, the large cotton
ldspresenta beautiful appearance, and tits
pretty sight to see the pickers gathering
in King cotton. But few persons have any
idea of the large quantity of cotton made in
that section of the State. found some few
cotton croakera, butas nearly allare satisfied
with the largest yield of corn ever known III
this entire section, it is reasonable to expect
fair and largely increased trade And, in.
deed, that is the outlook all over the State
from tidewater to mountaintops, and the
people seem happy, hopeful and encouraged.
And now when the golden harvest is I'll
gathered in and the long looked for turn in
the tide having reached US. the next ques
ton to be considered is how every man can
most ef'ectually put his shoulder to the
wheel. and when the election which is soon
to como off takes place,to vote for the nomi
nee OF the democratic party and give the
cold shoulder to ali Independents. find
politics very qniet and chairman Barbour
will have to throw some dynamite cut along
the lines 10 wake the sleeping legions.
C. W. G